By ALLI SCHIEBER
Editor-in-Chief
Donald Merel Cunningham established a new nursing scholarship at NWOSU.
The scholarship is the D.M. and “Roxanne” Cunningham Endowed Memorial Scholarship.
Cunningham grew up in Alva as his family moved there when he was 5 years old and he attended NWOSU for a few semesters before moving to Oklahoma City.
Although he moved to the City his friends said that he was always an Alva boy and often told stories about Alva’s work ethic and integrity. Cunningham had a lot of respect for nurses but his respect for nurses grew when he watched the care provided to his ailing parents.
The endowment was around $2 million and will help nursing students for years to come.
Each year the recipient will receive $3000.
The scholarship is named after him and his dog, Roxanne, Cunningham attributed the man he was to his dog. Cunningham died on Sept. 14, 2024 and wanted his life’s work to make a difference when he was gone. Cunningham believed in paying it forward did a lot of philanthropy through out his life both volunteering and donating.